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How to Make Money on Youtube Without Making Videos (2024 Guide)

Don't Work Another Day is reader-supported. We may receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own.
  By Forrest McCall | Last Updated:  September 14, 2021

For about twenty years, Youtube has slowly dominated the world and become a way for many to make money. Unfortunately, those who earn money on this site devote much time and effort to their videos. Not everyone has this time on their hands, but many want to make money with their videos. You might wonder if it is possible to earn money without making videos.

Though there are few ways to accomplish this task, it is possible to earn income without being a video creator. By following a few simple steps, you can enable monetization without making a single viral video. Whether this serves as your central income or is a great side hustle, a youtube account will permit you to earn money without creating your videos.

In this post, I'll explore how to make money on YouTube without making videos, how to become a YouTube content creator and boost your watch time, and how much money you can make on YouTube. Let's get started!

YouTube

How to Make Money on Youtube Without Making Videos

There is only one way to earn money on Youtube if you want to go with the traditional video route. You will need to re-publish videos that already exist and make money off of the videos. This action might seem like it is unfair, but it is cheating the system in a way that is perfectly okay. It allows you to access the benefits of items like Adsense revenue and the Youtube Partner Program.

To complete this task, you will need to follow four simple steps. These include:

  • Locating a keyword
  • Re-publishing videos
  • Optimizing videos
  • Monetizing videos

By following all of these, you will bring in ad revenue in no time at all.

Read on to learn more about each of these steps. With a complete understanding of the process, bringing in income should be no problem at all. You must ensure you are using videos from the creative commons so that you do not get in trouble for plagiarism. We will discuss this as we go into detail about this process.

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Locate a Keyword

The first step you need to accomplish when attempting to re-publish a video is to find a keyword that will draw an audience to it by completing keyword research. Many websites will show you how many times a word has come to its attention in a period. By picking a popular one, you can draw a larger audience to view the video and therefore make more money.

Some of the best sites for keyword research and locating a target keyword include:

All of these will help you settle on a keyword that will assist you and make money.

This research is vital. Without knowing what words draw in Youtube lovers, you cannot make ad revenue on Youtube with a simple Youtube search. There are too many words out there. Knowing what the best ones are ahead of time will save you much trouble as you go about this process to make money on Youtube with your video.

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Re-Publish Videos

The next step is to re-publish a video. It is vital to note that this video will come from the creative commons, as these are safe for anyone to use. Anything not from the creative commons belongs to someone else and could cost you lots of money if they caught you. Check the creative commons on Youtube before selecting the video. Messages should be highlighted for the best effect.

To get to the creative commons, you will need to follow a few simple steps. These include:

  • Going on the Youtube site
  • Clicking your user icon
  • Selecting Creator Studio
  • Hitting the video editor link in the left menu
  • Clicking on creative commons
  • Adding a video to your account and posting it

All of these steps will lead you to the creative commons and allow you to make money on the videos listed there.

Once you have selected a video, you are ready to move on to the next step. It is simple to make money on Youtube without creating your own videos if you know what to do. Many are not even aware that the creative commons exist for them to use. This location is a great source that you can use to your advantage as you attempt to find revenue from unusual places on the site.

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Optimize the Video

The third thing you will need to do to make money on Youtube without creating videos is to optimize the creative commons video you have selected.

This step means ensuring that people will click on your video as they scroll past, ensuring that you gain access to exclusive rewards and make money simultaneously.

To optimize your video, you can:

  • Utilize clickbait video title to make money by capturing your audience's eye with a picture or words
  • Adding captions so that all can see and find videos you have uploaded and have messages highlighted

These are both ways that you can optimize your videos.

Traffic is critical. The more people you have coming to your videos, the more Google Adsense and Youtube premium revenue will pick up on the action. With an Adsense account, you can have video ads that make money when people watch them. Making money on Youtube is easy enough if you are smart about the optimization process.

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Monetize the Video

The last thing that you need to do is monetize the video.

This will ensure that you are making money on Youtube, rather than posting items that have no impact on the world around you.

Whether with an Adsense account or the Youtube Partner Program, there is a way for you to monetize your piece if traffic is coming in. YouTube partners are capable of making a great income from the ads on their videos.

The simplest way to monetize a youtube video is to become a Youtube partner and make a Google Adsense account. To accomplish this task for your Youtube videos, you should:

  • Hit the same Creator Studio button as before
  • Select Status and Features
  • Click Enable in the monetization box
  • Submit the proper information for your Google account

Once you have done all of these steps, it might take a few days for your Google Adsense account to be approved. Once it is, you are all set to make money on Youtube with your videos.

Google Adsense is a great platform that goes hand in hand with Youtube, whether you have the basic version or Youtube Red. This platform will permit you to earn money with your videos even though they are not your own. Once this is done, your videos can start earning you income with the traffic they bring to your channel.

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If this still seems like too much work to you, there are other ways that you can make an income on Youtube without posting any kind of video. All of these involve working with a Youtube partner that is already one of the popular content creators on the site. You can be a part of their team, ensuring that their video content is the best it can be.

Some of the other ways that you can make money without posting Youtube content include:

  • Writing video descriptions
  • Selling merch
  • Managing channels
  • Publishing your own videos

All of these methods are sure to earn you income within the Youtube community.

Read on to learn more about each of these methods. With any luck, you can take them on in no time and start to bring in bonus revenue. These items can be a part-time job, or a full-time position if you dedicate enough time to them.

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Write Video Descriptions

One particular job that you can take on is writing video descriptions for established Youtubers. The description is critical for top Youtube stars, as it allows more capitalization on their engaging content. Most creators make the most of their Youtube views and incorporate influencer marketing in their descriptions.

Some items that you might put in the description include:

  • Advertisements for the personality's products
  • Links to various sites, such as the Youtuber's website or a company they are a part of
  • Places for donations if the creator likes to bring money to specific charities or organizations

All of these typically go in the description of a video, where viewers can click on them and go straight to the site that is linked.

You can generate money taking on this task because many Youtubers are too busy to do it for themselves. If you charge the right price, it doesn't matter how many Youtube views the video gets. You will walk away with a sizable chunk of change in your pocket every time you are asked to write a video description.

Descriptions are easiest for those who have some kind of writing background. This will also help you to get the job much faster than someone with little to no experience at all in the writing world. If this is you, take advantage of your skills and advertise your services to YouTubers. You never know where you might find an income goldmine.

Sell Merch

If a certain creator is very popular on Youtube, they might need to acquire merch to sell to their audience members. If you can do so, you can design or sell the merch for them. This is often a task that makes the most money. Users are always excited about spending money on their favorite Youtubers.

Some examples of merch that you might sell includes:

  • T-shirts
  • Jackets
  • Sweatpants
  • Hoodies

All of these items can be sold to fans.

With merch, you will give a portion to the creator and any other companies that are involved in the process. This Youtube-related job is simple, so long as you are good at keeping track of all the orders that come from videos. Once you have the audience's attention, you are sure to rake in a lot of money as the merchandise is purchased.

Of course, designing merchandise is easier than creating it and shipping it out to consumers. Remember this so that you can ensure you are charging a fair rate for your services. Do not underpay yourself if you are doing a lot of work to get merchandise out to the Youtuber's fanbase. This method deserves a livable wage.

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Manage Channels

Finally, you can manage channels rather than being in charge of posting content all day every day. As a channel manager, you will block out a schedule for the individual's videos and ensure that they are uploaded on time. Where a video goes is completely up to you. In this job, you can feel free to set your organization skills free while you make money.

Being a channel manager is a little more work than the previous two items listed. In this position, you might be responsible for:

  • Monitoring and scheduling live streams to promote the Youtube channel you are working for
  • Checking live chats and keeping them intact
  • Pushing video views and attracting consumers to watch the content out there
  • Managing media outlets and advertising the individual that you are working for
  • Viewing channel memberships and trying to increase the subscriptions for the creator

These are a few of the items that a channel manager might do.

If this seems like too much work, you might be better off doing something else. However, many people will pay a lot of money for a good person to keep things in order in their space. Depending on how much money you want to bring in, this could be perfect for you. Managing works best for those who have mastered their organization skills and love keeping things in line.

When managing, you should note that the bigger of a Youtube star you work for, the more money you will make. Someone getting 1000 views per video will not be able to pay you as much as someone who is getting 100,000 views per video. Ensure that you are making smart decisions about your client to ensure that you can be as financially stable as possible.

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Video Editing YouTube

Pros and Cons of Uploading a Youtube Video Versus Alternative Earnings

With alternative earning, you might wonder if there are items that make this method of earning better than uploading videos. It is vital to know the pros and cons of each situation so you can understand which choice is better for you. Some might find that uploading better suits their needs, while others might want alternative methods.

Keep reading to learn more about the pros and cons of content creating versus alternative methods. These will can help you settle on your choice more clearly, giving you an idea of what will come if you pick one form of video income over the other.

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Pros of Uploading Versus Alternative Earnings

There are a few pros that come with uploading instead of using any of these alternative earning methods on Youtube. You should consider these before avoiding the uploading process, as creators often make the most money on Youtube. By starting your Youtube channel with a flair of originality, you might increase channel memberships, and this is the revenue that flows in.

Some of the pros that come with uploading instead of using some of these alternative ways to make money on Youtube include:

  • Many people are attracted to originality if you manage to come up with something that intrigues many people at the same time
  • It can be more fun than selecting work that already exists and re-uploading it to a website, so you are less likely to burn out with boredom
  • You get to have more freedom with the work that you do, so you can explore a million genres and styles that the creative commons likely do not have in their database
  • You might have more opportunities to work with specific sponsors who can bring you a more substantial revenue than Google Adsense ever could

All of these are excellent reasons why you might want to consider uploading as a way to make money on Youtube, rather than avoiding the creative process altogether.

Of course, as with anything, some cons come with using the upload method to make money on Youtube. It is just as vital that you understand the bad things along with the good. With a full acknowledgment of the risks that come with a Youtube channel, you can make a smart and calculated decision about where you want to spend most of your time.

Cons of Uploading Versus Alternative Earnings

Next, we will go over a few of the cons that come with uploading creative content on your own Youtube channel. By starting a new channel, you will need to be aware of these as you go along. Knowing the cons along with the pros is the only way to decide what format of money-making is best for you. From the video thumbnail to the work involved, there are many items you should consider.

Some of the cons that come with uploading original content rather than using pieces that are not yours include:

  • There is more work involved, which means you will need to take time out of your busy schedule to create content as much as possible
  • It is hard to make it big with original content, so this often means a lot of work for absolutely no payoff
  • Editing is necessary, which can take a ton of time on top of coming up with original ideas and bringing them to fruition
  • Often, you need expensive equipment to ensure that your content is up to a quality that others will enjoy seeing on their screens, which can be too much out of your pocket

All of these are reasons for using some of these alternative earning methods rather than taking the time to create your content to increase watch time.

Of course, these cons might not matter to some. If you are determined to show the world your creative voice, there is nothing that can get in your way. However, for those seeking a way to make money without uploading videos of their own, these cons might comfort them in the decision they've made. Both versions of Youtube utilization are appealing to different people.

What Kind of Money Can You Make Without Uploading?

We've talked a lot about the ways that you can make money without uploading original content on Youtube, but we have not talked about any of the specifics. You might wonder just how much you can make with the opportunities available to you on this site. Is the potential income worth the work that will be involved?

On average, most people on Youtube will make about $18 per 1000 viewers that come to their channel. Income that comes from Youtube channels is based on a few factors. Some of these include:

  • The number of people that come and watch the videos, as the more views, the more money you will bring in per video you upload
  • The number of advertisements that run on the video, as the more there are, the more cash will be made
  • The number of time people spends on both the videos and the advertisements built-in, as advertisers reward you for giving their company more time in front of potential customers for their merchandise
  • The specific clicks an ad gets, as more interaction will bring in more substantial revenue for you

All of these can impact the money that a video makes if someone decides to watch it. The more of these that you have, the more money you will make as time goes on. It might take a while to figure out a formula for good income with re-uploaded videos, but you will get the hang of it with some practice.

Thanks to these, some videos earn hundreds of thousands of dollars while others make less than fifty. Strategizing and using target keywords, clickbait, and enticing images will get you even farther. If you can get someone to click on your video, the chances are high that you will earn money. The most critical factor is the time spent on the piece. Once you have that, you're all set.

Of course, if your video is terrible, people might click out of it faster than is considered long enough to bring in income. You still need to make sure that you are taking the time to find an enticing piece within the creative commons license. The more intriguing, the longer people will stay. The longer people stay, the more money you will bring in when all is said and done.

What Makes the Money on a Youtube Channel?

With all this talk of money, you might wonder where exactly the income is coming from. How is it possible to even make money from any video on Youtube? It is vital to understand this so that you know if your reposted videos are in a position to bring in financial benefits. Knowing how the process works is just as critical as doing it correctly.

We discussed this a little bit above. With a Youtube channel, the money comes from a few different things. Some of these include:

  • Clicks by users, both on the video and the ads that will lead them to another site
  • The length of the video, which often needs to be over ten minutes in length to succeed and bring in income
  • The ads that go on the video, which will make more money if they are video ads rather than pop-up banners that appear on the bottom of the screen

All of these make money on a Youtube channel if it has undergone the monetization process. This income is why monetization is critical. Without it, there is no way that you can earn money on a creative commons license video.

Of course, sometimes other factors can lead to an income on a video. Companies might sponsor a video, though this is most common on original videos as re-uploaded videos cannot discuss the company with viewers. The bigger your channel gets, the more opportunities will become available. Take advantage of this way to make money without creating your content.

The most vital thing to remember is that money comes from attracting users. The more people you can get, the more money you will bring in. As you re-upload videos to make cash, keep this in mind. You need to make your videos look as enticing and fun to watch as possible, even if they are not your own. Youtube pays those that bring in the most users. Ensure this is you by taking the time to make your stuff look good.

Final Thoughts on Making Money with YouTube

Now that you understand a little bit more about making money on Youtube without creating content, you can take advantage of monetization features to enhance your bank account with little effort. With Youtube ads, you can earn passive income with minimal effort.

Video creators put a lot of time and effort into their work.

This work can be a daunting task, but it is not one that you have to take on to bring in income on Youtube. With the information provided, you can tackle this site without fear and twist the Youtube algorithm so that it works in your favor. Work smarter rather than harder for the best results.

Have you made money on YouTube without creating videos? Comment your experience below!

Forrest is a personal finance, entrepreneurship, and investing expert dedicated to helping others obtain life long wealth. He has a Bachelor's degree in business and has been featured in many popular publications including Forbes, Business Insider, Bankrate, CNET Money, and many others. To learn more about Forrest, visit the About Us Page for more info.
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